Explore & respond

•   Jesus sees in Mary’s action something prophetic. The fragrance is a reminder of burials in general and his coming death in particular. As Mary washes his feet, so he too will wash his disciples’ feet, a lesson of what love really looks and feels like. How do we show those around us – especially those outside the church – what love looks and feels like today? What prophetic actions might we be drawn towards?
  
  
•   Judas has his own agenda which, according to John, is more about personal gain than concern for the poor. On this occasion, Jesus declines to get involved in a discussion about charitable giving, and commends Mary for her costly worship. But, despite many interpretations through the centuries, Jesus’ comments should not be taken as a manifesto regarding giving – or not – to the poor. Rather, it is about the true value and place of worship. We should be asking ourselves if our worship is the sort that fills the room – and the world – with its fragrance.
  
  
•   Paul gives his testimony of what Jesus has done, what it means, and how it has changed him. Always extravagant in his contrasts, Paul ‘throws in the bin’ everything that gave him power and authority, counting all his training and achievement as just so much rubbish. In place of all that, he has the righteousness won for him by Jesus on the cross and in the resurrection. Christ has done all this. But he, Paul, still has more work to do to win the goal. What work do we still have to do?

You may also find this week's All-age conversation useful.

KEY:  icon indicates ways to connect faith with everyday life

Or, what about the difference between ‘learning about our Christian faith’ and ‘practising our Christian faith’? We often use ‘practise’ to describe what we are doing when we are learning – e.g. when we practise the piano. But practise really means preparing to perform, to do – as in ‘putting it into practice’. Some things are said to be ‘common practice’ – meaning things we do regularly. Of course, we usually hope that the more we do something, the better it becomes!

So, what does it mean to ‘practise our Christian faith’ in the world? And what is it that our Lenten training is preparing us for, or to do? Today’s Gospel story involves both worship (by Mary) and action (serving/caring, by Martha). Can we have one without the other? How might our church help us better to train or prepare for worship and for action in the world? Have we got the balance right? Which do we need to put more time/effort/energy into right now? How did Jesus get the balance right?

You may also find this week's Sermon ideas useful.

1. A perfumed handkerchief.
2. A circle (crown) made from a thorny branch.
3. A dish or cup of wine vinegar (to taste).
4. A small, rough, wooden cross.
5. A hammer and a piece of wood with a nail embedded in it.

Play or perform quiet music throughout (e.g. ‘Were you there when they crucified my Lord?’). Pass round the five items, leaving time for people to reflect and pray silently about each one. Invite people to smell the handkerchief; feel the crown of thorns; taste the vinegar; look at the cross; and to hit the nail with the hammer, listening to its jarring sound. At the end, say,

‘This is what Jesus endured for us:
may he show us how we can truly live
and worship our risen Lord.
Amen.’
E S

Filled with fragrance

Pass round a variety of items that smell (e.g. a solid air freshener, a bar of soap, a jar of Vicks™, a sprig of a fragrant herb,  a jar of curry powder). Invite people to share with their neighbours, or in groups, the response evoked by each fragrance – if it helps, suggest using phrases such as: ‘it is like…’ or ‘it reminds me of…’. We can’t always find the right words to describe smells. We have the same problem when talking about God! What smells might enhance your sense of worship?
E S

Faithful works

Numerous charities are doing ‘good works’. Is there anything different about the ones doing so because they are Christian? Invite people to use phones to research two charities – one Christian, one not – and to compare the two. Is the end result the same for the recipients of aid? Does our faith affect our choice of which charities to support?
W A

Showing love

Give out small pieces of paper or card, and pens – and have a range of craft/card-making materials available. Ask: If Jesus came into your home, what would you do first? Put the kettle on? Phone a friend? Take a selfie with him?! Something else? Invite people to write or draw on their paper, or use the craft materials to create a card, that represents their choice. When complete, ask people to share with each other their choice – and to say why.
E S

Spiritual styles abbreviations
W Word E Emotion S Symbol A Action
Read our Spiritual Styles articles 

There are many areas of modern church life where this beautiful/useful tension may exist: improvements to buildings, resource-intensive activities and, of course, music and the arts.

An example in the arts is set out in this piece, bringing William Shakespeare to a nameless modern church. It is exaggerated for effect.

Characters
Dennis/Denise (Chair of the church creative committee); Will Shakespeare

Dennis is snipping a large manuscript as Will enters.

Dennis
Come in, Will. As you know, I've been put in charge of the church's creative committee. I know – I don't know much about art, but I know what the church  needs. Now I want to have a quiet word about your sketch –

Will
Play.

Dennis (talking over Will's line)
… before I left, I asked you to write a little skit for our church family on the Bible's teaching on evil. Two minutes was maximum, funny, beginning with a quote from the Bible – and lots of practical applications we can take away on how to commit evil. Instead you've sent me one hundred pages called (looks at the thick manuscript before him, depressed) Macbeth.

Will (eagerly)
What did you think?

Dennis
Frankly, I don't see how we can use it in our church. We need something short with a direct pay-off. I don't think anyone will have time to watch it. Even if we find actors willing to learn lines and rehearse it.

Will
Did you read it or just look at it?

Dennis
I got as far as page 20. But I picked up on the gist. Bill – no one's going to be interested in two hours of Scottish nobles warbling on about ambition and supernatural disorder. It just doesn't touch church life.

Will
But it will resonate with the man hungry for promotion, the woman with a guilty secret, the entanglement of evil …

Dennis (speaking over Will's last phrase)
And there are witches – witches, Will! Bringing the occult into the church. You should know better. And unsavoury language. Why can't the porter just open the door without letting loose a string of profanities? Fortunately I didn't understand most of it but my son who does English GCSE giggled and I know that's a bad sign. Then your practice of using boys to play women goes right against our child protection policy. Kissed by men! It's not NQWWW – (before Will asks) – Not Quite What We Want.

Will
The play is jinxed! (turning away)

Dennis (compassionately)
Will, let me give you a vision for your future in the Church. Creative activities are all right for those taken that way. But a man of your intelligence and communication skills should study to be a preacher, for the business of saving souls and building disciples.

Will (Pause. Picking up the play and looking at it)
It's beautiful.

Dennis
But it's not useful.

Will
I'll take my play outside the church. Where people appreciate it.

Dennis
Outside the church? Unbelievers? Who'll go and see Macbeth?

Will
Jesus commends a woman for doing something beautiful for him. Others say the money could be better spent. I see which side you take. (leaves)

Dennis (sighs)
Artists. Let's hope Beethoven's made progress on those new songs and Leonardo on the Sunday School colouring sheets. (To audience) I may not know much about art, but I know what the church needs.

So many of the psalms we sing were once community songs, sung in celebration of shared events, and this flags up a way for us to encounter the power and mercy of God just as they had done. It may not seem quite in the Lenten spirit of restraint, but as we approach Easter we are approaching the greatest thing God has done for us – and we should sing it out!

Singing together

How to use the psalms in worship.

Response line: The Lord has done great things for us.

The Lord        
2 index fingers point upwards.

has done       
Both hands fingers extended thumb uppermost; right hand makes ‘sawing’ motion across top of left.

great things  
Both hands thumbs up.

for us.           
Palm uppermost, make circle out from body and back.

Hymns and songs based on Psalm 126 include:

‘The Lord has done great things’ (MCW1, and a great worship song in PS1)

‘When the Lord brought us back’ (TS1)

‘When the Lord restored’ (MCW1)

‘The Lord restored us’ (PRA)

‘What marvels the Lord worked’ (NEH).